Murders delay Hollywood release

October 21 2002

A film about a mad sniper has had its release put on hold because of the shootings in the Washington area. Phone Booth, starring Colin Farrell and Kiefer Sutherland, is the latest victim of an increasing nervousness in Hollywood about films that reflect real events too closely.

Phone Booth tells the story of a New York publicist called Stu Shepard, played by Farrell, who picks up a ringing public phone in Manhattan only to be told by an unseen sniper, played by Sutherland, that he will be shot if he replaces the receiver. The film, completed last year and just shown at the Toronto Film Festival, was due for release nationally in the US on November 15.

Now, after a few days of deliberations, 20th Century Fox has decided to delay the opening in deference to the relatives of the nine people killed by the Washington sniper.

The director, Joel Schumacher, told the newspaper Variety that he did not believe it should be delayed. "There are many serial killers that haven't been caught. Should they not release Red Dragon?" [the hit film about the early days of Hannibal Lecter starring Anthony Hopkins].